Saturday, January 3, 2009
A major health agency of the British Government on Friday announced new rules for approval of drugs that could give the dying a greater age.
A support group for cancer patients said that 1,000 patients per year could benefit from the change in the rules.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) said the new regulation would ensure that other agencies under its management to consider all the benefits when making recommendations for treatments that extend the life of patients.
NICE decides which treatments are available under the British National Health Service (NHS).
The new rules give the terminally ill access to treatment, although it is known that extends the lives of patients, it is usually considered too expensive for NICE.
Treatments that could be considered under the new rules are aimed at patients with less than two years of life.
Furthermore, there should be evidence that treatment can effectively extend the life of terminal patients in at least three months, compared to the medicines provided by the NHS.
Another condition is that there is no alternative available comparable benefits in the NHS.
PAC NICE will have to consider whether the additional cost of treatment is warranted, given the special benefit for patients who are expected to live for a short period of time.
The new rules, issued after a public consultation, will come into effect in time for committee meetings NICE assessment, scheduled for later this month.
Labels: Health
